Next to the awe-inspiring moves of the Nissan GTR (which recently met some very stiff competition), Nissan's 350Z is the company's halo sports car. Since 1970, the Z has been a Nissan performance icon and the latest fifth generation 350Z has only cemented Nissan's reputation for building fun-to-drive, stylish and reasonably priced sports cars.

The new 370Z, which will debut officially at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, is an evolutionary design. But that's okay with us. The look is smoother and more organic than the current model. Nissan has yet to confirm what changes it's made beneath the metal, but it's safe to assume from the name alone that the larger 3.7-liter V6 from the Infiniti G37 will reside under that new hood. In the Infiniti, the engine produces 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. So let's hope the new Z delivers similar numbers. You can bet there will be upgrades to the chassis as well, since the Z shares its rear-drive platform with the Infiniti. Inside, the photos show quite a departure from the current car. Squint hard and it looks like a combination of Nissan Murano and Infiniti switch gear and materials. We particularly like the more prominent center-mounted tachometer. Want to get a taste of what the new Z will feel like from behind the wheel? Go to a Nissan store and sit in a Maxima-the two share the same steering wheel. The Nissan 370Z will go on sale in early 2009. -Ben Stewart